The Carnival of Flowers is an annual event in Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia, where public and private gardens are on display to the public.
The Carnival of Flowers is an annual event in Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia, where public and private gardens are on display to the public.
In a public meeting in the Toowoomba town hall in September 1949, a decision was made to revive the garden competitions and festivals that had ceased during World War II. [1] The first Carnival of Flowers was held in October 1950 and was a resounding success, with more than 50,000 people lining the main street to watch the opening parade. This heralded eight days of festivities focused on Toowoomba's beautiful gardens, both public and private. Money raised from the carnival went to local charities. The following year, the date of the carnival was moved to September, to coincide with the school holidays. [2] [3] Since then, the carnival has continued every year and is visited by thousands of people from around the state and the country. It is Queensland's longest running annual festival. [4] [5]
Laurel Bank Park is featured as a main attraction during the carnival with the Council planting thousands of flowers in the park for the event. [6] In the 1951 souvenir brochure, the park was included on the official programme with a band scheduled to play in the park on Sunday afternoon. [7] In subsequent souvenir brochures, the park was also featured as an attraction not to be missed. [8] [5]
In 2020 during the COVID pandemic, the carnival was held for the full month of September rather than the usual 10 days as part of the COVID-safe plan, which had all venues unfenced and outdoors to enable social distancing. Over 200,000 people attended the carnival. [9]
The largest crowd at the festival was 360,000 in 2022. [10]
Toowoomba is a city in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. It is 132 km (82 mi) west of Queensland's capital, Brisbane. The urban population of Toowoomba as of the 2021 census was 142,163, having grown at an average annual rate of 1.45% over the previous two decades. Toowoomba is the second-most-populous inland city in the country after the nation's capital, Canberra. It is also the second-largest regional centre in Queensland, and is often referred to as the capital of the Darling Downs. It is the council seat of the eponymously named Toowoomba Region.
The Darling Downs is a farming region on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland, Australia. The Downs are to the west of South East Queensland and are one of the major regions of Queensland. The name was generally applied to an area approximating to that of the Condamine River catchment upstream of Condamine township but is now applied to a wider region comprising the Southern Downs, Western Downs, Toowoomba and Goondiwindi local authority areas. The name Darling Downs was given in 1827 by Allan Cunningham, the first European explorer to reach the area and recognises the then Governor of New South Wales, Ralph Darling.
Floriade is a flower and entertainment festival held annually in Canberra's Commonwealth Park on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. It features extensive displays of flowering bulbs with integrated sculptures and other artistic features. Floriade comes from the Latin word floriat, which means to design with flowers.
This is a list of major parks, gardens, and nature reserves in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Toowoomba South State School is a heritage-listed former school at 158 James Street, South Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Department of Public Works (Queensland). It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 2 December 2013.
Drayton State School is a heritage-listed state school at 71–89 Brisbane Street, Drayton, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by the Department of Public Works (Queensland) and built in 1912. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 February 2020.
A flower parade is a parade in which the floats, vehicles, boats, participants, animals and other things are decorated or covered in flowers. Often there are other elements like marching bands and people in costumes. Flower parades are held in several countries, many of which celebrate the forthcoming of the seasons. The oldest flower parade dates back to the 1800s.
Heritage and People’s Choice Limited, trading as Heritage Bank, is one of Australia's largest mutual banks. Its head office is in Toowoomba, Queensland.
Cooyar is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Cooyar had a population of 231 people.
Goombungee is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Goombungee had a population of 1,066 people.
Toowoomba City is an urban locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It is the central suburb of Toowoomba, containing its central business district and informally known as the Toowoomba CBD. In the 2021 census, Toowoomba City had a population of 2,321 people.
East Toowoomba is a residential locality in Toowoomba in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, East Toowoomba had a population of 5,953 people.
Middle Ridge is a residential locality of Toowoomba in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Middle Ridge had a population of 7,595 people.
Mount Lofty is a residential locality on the north-eastern edge of the suburban area of Toowoomba, in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Mount Lofty had a population of 3,825 people.
Newtown is a residential locality in Toowoomba in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Newtown had a population of 10,039 people.
Boyce Gardens is a heritage-listed garden and citrus farm at 6 Range Street, Mount Lofty, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1930 to 1950s. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 January 2001.
Queens Park is a heritage-listed botanic garden at 43–79 Lindsay Street, East Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland, Toowoomba Region, Australia. It was built from 1875 to 1970s. It also contains the Toowoomba Botanic Gardens. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 April 2001.
Thomas Park Bougainvillea Gardens is a heritage-listed former private garden and now public park at 151 Harts Road, Indooroopilly, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Henry Thomas and built from 1914 to 1918. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 10 October 2014.
Laurel Bank Park is a heritage-listed park at the corner of West Street, Hill Street and Herries Street, Toowoomba City, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1904 to 1943. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 30 November 2018.
Gardening in Australia reflects the different styles of Australian art, including influences from Roman, Islamic, Italian, French, and English gardens. Modern Australian gardening emphasize gardens and their surroundings, focusing heavily on both urban horticulture and landscape architecture.
